New Headphone User

I agree: get yourself an aftermarket cable (I recommend the Equinox by Stefan AudioArt) and a headphone amp (I recommend the Ray Samuals Audio XP-7, but there's lots of great choices out there -- depends on yopur budget and taste). The Stax set up is very nice too, but pricey. I really enjoy my headphone set up. It's more intimate with the music and you can hear all the details. The HD600s are my current fav.

Another note about the STAX-

I agree with Budrew about their expense when new....BUT I bought a complete STAX Classic system on the "Gon recently for under $700.00 ($1,500 retail). This was less than my HD-600's, 15 ft Cardas Cable, and Musical Fidelity V2 X-Cans Headphone amp, and outperforms that combo by a fair margin (for my listening tastes).

Other fine amps for driving the HD-600's that I've used include the Sugden Headmaster (It drove the HD-600's better than my Headroom Max) and the Gilmore unit.

Enjoy your journey through headphone mania!

Headphones are certainly good as a back-up, but they do not represent acoustic space in a correct manner.Second rate system regardless of what it can do right.

Enjoy the HD-600s (my choice as well), and check out Headfi.com. You will probably be amazed at what you can get from a dedicated HP amp.

Hello all. I use my HD 600's connected to my Earmax pro via a 10ft. pair of Cardass cable. Pure sonic bliss. I find the source is very important as this is a very revealling headphone. My source for the record is a modified/upgraded Anthem CD1. I have this feeding a Taddeo Digital Antidote II via XLO Signature interconnects. From my Taddeo to my Earmax Pro I'm using Hamonic Technology Pro Sillway II's. Tubes swapping in this system is worthwhile. For the moment I've settled on a Siemens CCa (60's vintage) in my Anthem, Mullard for the 12AT7 input on my Earmax, and Telefunken CCa's in the output position. I love my setup. I've also tried my Seinnhesser/Earmax combo on my Veceur 2.2/Kora Hermes dac from my 2 channel rig with SPECTCULAR results. Amazing dynamics and incredible seperation between instruments...inside and outside my head. U know what I'm talking about if your a headphone nut. But I cant afford to buy that combo again for my headphone setup, so the Anthem/Taddeo combo keeps me satisfied.

This headphone is incredible bang for the buck as it can be had brand new on Audiogon for under $250
Throw a good tube headphone amp on it and mate it to a good source. You wont be dissapointed.
O ya......upgrade that cheap cable on it

Happy listening

dudeaudio